Dental Assisting

What is Dental Assisting?

Students in the Dental Assisting program learn how to properly aid dentists and dental hygienists. During the course of the program, they will learn the proper techniques that go into every aspect of assisting in a dental office, from taking x-rays to scheduling appointments. To ensure that students are trained as accurately as possible, they practice on modern dental equipment and become familiar with tools common to the profession. Other tasks assigned in this program include learning proper sterilization, instrument transferral, infection control, and preventative healthcare techniques; and assisting with basic dental procedures. While students emerge from the Dental Assisting program fully equipped to work as a dental assistant, further education is required before the student can achieve other positions in the field.

Successful students in this program will typically like staying busy and interacting with others on a daily basis. Since these positions require a great deal of patient-assistant interaction, dental assistants can expect to communicate regularly, either in person or over the phone, when scheduling appointments or guiding patients who are present for appointments. Dental assistants also spend much of their time going between standing and sitting, depending on the situation, and they typically work in well-cooled and heated facilities and usually for 40 hours a week. They can also expect to do some light lifting of office supplies, dental instruments, and other similar items. Additionally, the following skills are necessary for professionals in this field:

Good eye and finger coordination

Good vision, either naturally or with correction, including good color vision

The ability to work in an often fast-paced environment

The ability to follow direction and perform tasks as needed

Strong interpersonal communication skills

Good organizational and multitasking capabilities

For more information on this program's objectives, please visit the "Task List" link to the left.

What's Next?

Employment Options

* Salaries listed are PA state averages taken from www.onetonline.com and are accurate as of June 2016.

The Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries may be directed to the CPAVTS Title IX Coordinator or the Section 504 Coordinator: Administrative Director, 110 Old Willow Mill Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 or 717-697-0354.